Back pain. It’s one of the leading
reasons we see a health-care
provider and take prescription
and over-the-counter drugs. Back
pain currently affects 85 per cent
of us and it often stems from how
we live.

Who better to talk about your
back than the spine care experts,
Alberta’s chiropractors.

“Many health issues, like back
pain, are directly related to lifestyle
choices and understanding,” says
Dr. Brian Gushaty, an Edmonton
chiropractor and registrar of the
Alberta College and Association of
Chiropractors.

Society in general has become
much more sedentary. We’re sitting
more—at desks, in vehicles, on
couches—and exercising less.
We are also increasingly reliant on
technological devices (like smart
phones, tablets and handheld
games), resulting in poor posture
from hunching over our devices
for hours on end. Combine these
Back pain often stems
from how we live

Lifestyle changes can make a big difference

factors and you have the perfect
recipe for back pain.

So, does this mean back pain is
inevitable? Absolutely not. Many
spine problems are the product of
improper posture resulting from
poor body mechanics. A few simple
lifestyle changes can make a big
difference.

The goal is a balanced lifestyle.
Take regular breaks from tech
devices, stand up and stretch after
every hour of sitting, and make
exercise a regular part of your
routine.

And it doesn’t end at back pain.
Other long-term effects of poor
posture can include repetitive stress
injuries (text neck, Blackberry
thumb), chronic headaches,
shoulder pain, rounded shoulders
and hunched backs.

In addition to increasing physical
activity and developing stronger
posture, you can further reduce
the risk of back pain by investing
in an ergonomic chair for your
office, a supportive mattress
and pillow for your bedroom,
eating a healthy diet and having
regular spinal checkups with your
chiropractor.

Preventing back pain, Gushaty
says, is really a matter of getting
back to the basics.